New laws to get driver’s license go into effect

PORTLAND – Mainers seeking a driver’s license were required to begin showing proof of residency effective Tuesday, but the change was largely uneventful.

Gov. John Baldacci signed the emergency legislation Friday requiring people to show two documents with proof of state residency to get a license.

There were minor delays for some people seeking or renewing licenses Tuesday at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office because of Monday’s Patriot’s Day holiday and extra time needed to get staff up to speed, said Don Cookson, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office.

Acceptable documents for first-time driver’s license applicants include a tax return, W-2 form, paycheck stub, utility bill, college ID or school transcript.

For the time being, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has suspended online license renewals while it sorts out how to comply with the changes, Cookson said.

The residency requirement is separate from another bill signed by Baldacci that requires proof of legal residency in the U.S. to obtain a license.

That legislation passed as the federal Department of Homeland Security pressed Maine and other states to comply with the Real ID Act, which goes into effect later.